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Homeward Bound by Nicolas Trudgian.
No single raid during World War Two has attracted more discussion, analysis,
features, books, interviews, or been the subject of more films, documentaries,
and TV programmes than the famous attack mounted by the RAFs 617 Squadron upon
the mighty hydroelectric dams in Westphalia, on the night of 16/17 May, 1943.
Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers,
manned by 133 aircrew, culminated months of secret training when they made one
of the most audacious raids of the war. Flying at tree-top height in darkness,
and doing their best to avoid electricity pylons and other obstructions, they
navigated their way deep into occupied territory. Their targets were the huge
Mohne, Sorpe, Ennepe, and Eder Dams that powered Germanys huge industrial
factories in the heartland of the Rhur. Each bomber had to avoid enemy flak and
fighters en route, locate their target, descend to precisely 60 feet above the
water then, in the face of a barrage of anti-aircraft fire, release their single
unique 10,000 lb hydrostatic bomb at exactly the right moment. There was no
margin for error, and there was no place for faint hearts. Eight of the crews
that left RAF Scampton that night were never to return. Of the fifty-six aircrew
on board only two survived. Though nearly half the skilled crews that made up
617 squadron were lost, they recorded one of the most successful and daring air
raids of the war- a costly endeavour, but one that has become legend in the
annals of aerial warfare. Nicolas Trudgians emotive painting Homeward Bound
depicts Dave Shannons Lancaster AJ-L, dodging the searchlights low over the
Dutch landscape, as he returns from the Eder Dam following the part he and his
crew played in the famous raid on that moonlight night in May, 1943. |
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Homeward Bound by Nicolas Trudgian.
No single raid during World War Two has attracted more discussion, analysis, features, books, interviews, or been the subject of more films, documentaries, and TV programmes than the famous attack mounted by the RAFs 617 Squadron upon the mighty hydroelectric dams in Westphalia, on the night of 16/17 May, 1943. Led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, nineteen specially adapted Lancaster bombers, manned by 133 aircrew, culminated months of secret training when they made one of the most audacious raids of the war. Flying at tree-top height in darkness, and doing their best to avoid electricity pylons and other obstructions, they navigated their way deep into occupied territory. Their targets were the huge Mohne, Sorpe, Ennepe, and Eder Dams that powered Germanys huge industrial factories in the heartland of the Rhur. Each bomber had to avoid enemy flak and fighters en route, locate their target, descend to precisely 60 feet above the water then, in the face of a barrage of anti-aircraft fire, release their single unique 10,000 lb hydrostatic bomb at exactly the right moment. There was no margin for error, and there was no place for faint hearts. Eight of the crews that left RAF Scampton that night were never to return. Of the fifty-six aircrew on board only two survived. Though nearly half the skilled crews that made up 617 squadron were lost, they recorded one of the most successful and daring air raids of the war- a costly endeavour, but one that has become legend in the annals of aerial warfare. Nicolas Trudgians emotive painting Homeward Bound depicts Dave Shannons Lancaster AJ-L, dodging the searchlights low over the Dutch landscape, as he returns from the Eder Dam following the part he and his crew played in the famous raid on that moonlight night in May, 1943.
Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm). Price £165.00 Signed by Sgt Ray E Grayston (deceased) and Flt Lt Edward C Johnson, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm). Price £210.00 Signed by Sgt Ray E Grayston (deceased) and Flt Lt Edward C Johnson, in addition to the artist.
Signed limited edition of 125 Collectors Edition prints. Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm). Price £260.00 Signed by Sgt Ray E Grayston (deceased), Flt Lt Edward C Johnson, Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM (deceased), Flight Sergeant Grant S McDonald RCAF, Flying Officer Dave Rodger and Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm). Price £ Signed by Sgt Ray E Grayston (deceased) and Flt Lt Edward C Johnson, in addition to the artist.
** (Ex Display) Signed limited edition of 300 prints. (Two copies reduced to clear) Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm). Price £105.00 Signed by Sgt Ray E Grayston and Flt Lt Edward C Johnson, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE DHM2263
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Homeward Bound by Nicolas Trudgian
- The Signatures
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 | Sergeant Raymond E. Grayston (deceased)
Ray Grayston had been serving in 50 Squadron when he was posted to 617 Squadron in March 1943. The flight engineer of Les Knight’s Lancaster AJ-N, they attacked and successfully breached the Eder Dam, Ray was shot down on 16th September 1943, and was taken to Stalag Luft III as a POW. Sadly, we have learned that Ray Grayston passed away on 15th April 2010.
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Flight Lieutenant Edward Johnson (deceased)
He joined the RAFVR early in the war, serving with 50 and 106 Squadrons. When he joined 617 Squadron in 1943 he was the bomb aimer on Lancaster AJ-N piloted by Les Knight on the Dambusters raid. During that raid they first attacked the Mohne Dam and then went on to attack and actually breach the Eder Dam, for which he was awarded the DFC. Later in 1943 he was shot down but evaded capture and during a two month journey returned to England via Holland, France, Spain and Gibraltar. Sadly, Edward Johnson died 1st October 2002.
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 | Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM
Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb aimer on American Joe McCarthy’s Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962.
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 | Flight Sergeant Grant S McDonald RCAF
Grant McDonald was the rear gunner on Lancaster AJ-F flown by Ken Brown. On the way to the Ruhr, the gunners shot up and damaged three trains in an eventful trip before reaching the Sorpe Dam.
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 | Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF
‘Doc’ Sutherland was the front gunner on Les Knight’s Lancaster AJ-N that went to the Mohne Dam, and then successfully attacked and breached the Eder Dam. Shot down four months later, he managed to evade capture and escape back to England with the help of the Resistance movements, returning through Holland, France and Spain.
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